Index milling machine



June 17, 1947. 4 w. HOIER 2,422,414

INDEX MILLING MACHINE Filed April 19, 1943 1o Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.Wa/fer Hoier ATTORNEY? June 17, 1947. I ER 2,422,414

INDEX MILLING MACHINE Filed April 19, 1945 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 E Es 0 :5 2E Q) l, I? I Q I II I l|| 7/ V 00 2 2.;

Q 4 I INVENTOR. 0 Wa/fer Ho/ler Toe/vEY June 17, 1947. w, HQIER2,422,414 INDEX MILLING MACHINE 1O Shee tS-Sheet 3 Filed April 19. 19432 /8 A w 74 73? C70 v g v lguuuuuuuuug$ ENTOR' HTTOB/VEY W. HOIER lNDEXMILLING MACHINE Jun e 17, 1947'.

1o Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 19, 1943 INVENTOR.

v Wa/fer Hole! ATTORNEY 1 June 17, 1947. w. HOlER 2,422,414

INDEX MILLING MACHINE Filed April 19, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.Wa/ fer Ho/er ATTOBNE Y June 17, 1947. w. HOlER .INDEX MILLING MACHINEFiled April 19, 1943 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. Wa/fer Ho/er BY W W W.

ATTOBNE Y June 17, 1947. w. IA-IOIER INDEX MILLING MACHINE Filed April19, 1945 10 Sheets-Shegat 7 INVNTOR. Wa/fer Ho/er W W ATTORNEY June 17,1E4? HOlER INDEX MILLING MACHINE Filed April 19, 1945 1Q Sheets-Sheet 9INVENTOR.

. Wa/fer Ho/er ATTORNEY.

June 17, 1947. w. HOIER INDEX MILLING MACHINE 1o sheetsi-sheet 1o FiledApril 19, 1943 R r W WH NF ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1947 INDEX MILLINGMACHINE Walter Hoier, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The CincinnatiMilling Machine 00., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationApril19,1943, Serial No. 483,686

8 Claims.

This invention relates to milling machines and more particularly to animproved automatic' radial milling machine.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved millingmachine for milling a series of radial surfaces on a Work piece inautomatic succession.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmechanism for effecting an automatic radial milling cycle comprisingrepetitive reciprocations between work and tool with indexing movementsinterposed between the reciprocations and stop means elfective after acomplete rotation of the work to terminate the cycle and permit workreloading.

A further object of this invention is to provide a self-containedindexing fixture for the purposes intended which may be angularlyadjusted and/ or longitudinally positionable upon the work supportingplaten of a machine with facility.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved hydraulicallyindexible feature which is adaptable for use on an hydraulicallyoperated machine whereby the same source of pressure may be utilized forpower producing purposes.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readilyapparent by reference to the following specification, considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and itis to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exactstructural details there shown and described, Within the scope of theappended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate likeor similar parts:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine tool embodying the principlesof this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the indexable work support.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end View of the work supporting fixture as viewed fromthe right hand end of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view as viewed on the line 5-'5 of Figure1.

Figure 6 is a detail plan view of the index plate.

Figure '1 is an elevational view of the plate shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a detail section on the line 9-9 of Figure 6.

2 Figure 10 is a plan view of the stopping and reversing dogs.

Figure 11 is a view in elevation of theparts shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a detail section on the line l2 l2 of Figure 10.

Figure, 13 is a detail section in elevation taken on the line l3l 3 ofFigure 5..

Figure 14 is a schematic view of the table control mechanism.

Figure 15 is a detail section in elevation as viewed on the line l5-l 5of Figure 5.

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic viewiof the hydraulic control circuit fortheindexing and stopping mechanism.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings thereference numeral I0 indicatesthe bed of the machine from the rear of which uprises a column I! havingvertical guideways I2 formed thereon for receiving andguiding avertically adjustable spindle carrier 13. The bed supports areciprocating table I which is adapted to be actuated by a piston I5,Figure 14, contained in a cylinder 16, the cylinder being formedintegral with the bed and the piston being connected by a piston rod I!to one end of the table 14; The hydraulic drive mechanism forcontrolling reciprocation of the table may ,bethe same as that shown inUnited States Letters Patent 2,019,486, issued November 5, 1935, andsince it. forms no part of the present invention it will not be,described in detail herein. 7

Briefly, it comprises a stop valve l8 reciprocably mounted ina housing19, and a selector 'valve 20 mounted in the same housing, and fluidpressure is supplied by a feed pump 21, andfa rapid traverse pump 22,both ,ofwhich are connected to the selector valve. A booster pump23.'serves to maintain the feed pump supply lines under a predeterminedpressure by supplying makeup oil thereto as required. A return line 24extends from the selector valve to a reservoir 25iand acts as a returnwhen the rapid traverse pump is utilized.

The selector valve plunger may be'reciprocated by a rod 26 to providetwo stations and the plungermay also be partially rotated which providesa combination ,of four positions for the selector valve plunger.Assuming the selector valve plunger to be rotated into one plane, itwill provide rapid. traverse right and feed left :for its two axialpositions and when oscillated into a second plane it will provide feedright and rapid traverse left for its two axial position in that plane.Thus, the selector valve controls the rate and advance again at a rapidtraverse rate. e'ycle Iof 'opei'ation'will' repeat'for alpredetermined'hun'ib'e'r oftiines as will be explained more fully -h'eiieafterand'thena stop dog which has been 4 Tfe'rideid i-nefiective throughoutthese various .l .suweyaarmubecome efle'ctive'and depress the "sap"plunger '31 whereu on stop "valve '18 will and direction of tablemovement While the stop valve interposed in series with it controls thestarting and stopping of the table.

A trip control plunger 21 is operatively connected to the shaft 26 forcontrol of automatic positioning of the selector valve and is supportedfor rotation and oscillation in the bed of the machine. Movementof theplunger up or down Will change the rate for a given direction as fromrapid traverse to feed, or feed to rapid traverse; When the plunger isrotated it will not only effect a change in direction in tabl movement;but also a change in rate. The shaft 26 may also be rotated and axiallyshifted by a manual control I lever 28 mounted on the end of th bed andop;-

eratively connected to the shaft 26 for universal movement to efiectthese movements. 7

Since it will be noted that the selector valve does not have a stopposition, it is necessary to provide the, stop valve l'8 which has twopositions, in one o'fwhi'ch the table will be stopped and the .othervinwhich the cylinder I6 will be operatively connected to the selectorvalve. The stop valve plunger. maybe shifted by a shifter rod 29 whichis normally held in a stop position by a spring 30 which is interposedbetween a fixed abutment '31 of the machine and aisho'uld'er 32 carriedby the valve. The rod 29pmaybe shifted to the right byacontrm lever 33which has a lost motion connection 34 with the rod 29 whereby rotationof the ieve'r iiia counterewckwise direction will shift the rod 29against the resistance of spring 30.

' movement is continued ,until a pawl 35 drops into'aiiotch SB in therod 29ithereby holdw ingth'e. valve in arunning position. The latch'1'35.is operatively connected at 36a to a stop plungter 31 which isnormally urged upward by a spring 38 interposed between a fixed abutment39 and a'collar lll carri'ed by th plunger 31. From this itshbuld beobvious thatif the'plunger 31 is defiiressedftheipawl 35'will'bewithdrawn from the fTtiotchf36 'andth'e sprin 30 will shift the stopvalve .18 Itoie, stop position. It'may be replaced in a runningpositienby themanualcontrol 33, which thusutil'i'zed as a starting lever for thema- Inthisniachine the cycle 'of' reciprocation of -ithetableficontemplates that the table I4 will ji'r'idve. *toj'the left 'jasvi'ewed in Figure 1 from a ,sta "ing'or work loadin'gposition andproceed at "a'rapi'd traverse rate until the work has reached th cutterat which time a trip dog 4| attached to L the "fro'ntof the table willraise the plunger "2"! andthereby movethe selector valve into a feedJust plunger 21, thereby changing the rate from rapid *travers'e to feedand'immediately thereafter a secfond' reve'rsiri'g dog .45 will'engagethe wing '43 and rotate the shaft?! 'in a counterclockwise direction 'asviewed-in plan, whereby the table will reverse This be shifted to a stopposition whereby one full automatic cycle of the machine will becompleted.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4 the reference numeral 41 indicates anexample of a work piece that is adapted to be milled on this machine. Itwill be noted that this work piece has a plurality of radially extendingvanes 48 and it is required that the opposite sides of these vanes bemilled or machined. A pair of cutters as and 50 are supported by anarbor 5| journaled in the carrier l3 and these cutters are spaced onopposite sides of a radial line passing through the center 52 of after,it will be obvious that the table Will bein a lockedposition when thework is changed, and

therefore to align the work properly on the table so that one vane is inalignment with the pair of cutters and correlated to the locking means,a work locater is provided adjacent the periphery of the table.

This locating means comprises a plunger 58 reciprocably mounted in abracket '59 mounted on an extension 56 of the base or support 6| for cthe table. A spring 52 normally holds this plunger in aretracted-position. The end of this plunger has a V-shaped notch 63formed therein for engaging the end of one of the vanes so as to centerit on a radial line which passes between the cutters 49 and Ell.

When the work piece has been properly positioned it is frictionallyclamped in position by a Washer '64 and a bolt 65 threaded in the end ofthe stud 5G. Thewear-plate is provided with a plurality "of springpressed plungers 65 whereby when the bolt 65 is loosened the plungerstend to lift the work from the table sufliciently to facilitate itsremoval.

A sleeve 67 is journaled in the base 6! and is provided on one end witha flange to which an index plate 68 and the table '53 are fastened as bybolts '69. The sleeve is held against lifting by anut l'fl threaded onthe lower end.

The base 6'! of the indexing fixture is supported for oscillation on apintle rod H which, as shown 'in Figure 4, passes through a pillow blocki2 which is bolted to the table M by T bolts 13. The other end of thesupport is provided with a pin 74 which is adapted to rest on'a sineblock'lS mounted on the table. The sine block is-interchangeable withother blocks to vary the angle of 7 which have theirouter ends supportedon adjust- 'being changed or adjusted, the support 6! has a bolt 82threaded therein, the lower end'of'the'bolt engaging the top of thetable whereby after the ine block is in position the bolt is rotated tolower the fixture onto the sine block.

The index plate 68 is shown in detail in Figures 6, 7 and 8 fro-m whichit will be noted that the underside of the plate is provided with aseries of ratchet teeth 83 and that the periphery of the plate isprovided with a series of looking or loeating notches 8 3 which areadapted to receive a locking plunger 85 which, as shown in Figure 15, isnormally urged into engagement with the periphery of the plate by aspringiili. The ratchet 81 for actuating the plate 68 is moreparticularly shown in Figure 15, from which it will be noted that theplunger Bl is slidably mounted in a bore 88 formed in an oscillatablegear member 89 and continuously urged upward into engagement with theratchet teeth 83 by a spring 99.

Referring to Figure 5, the member 89 is provided with a segmental gear9I which intermeshes with rack teeth 92 formed on a reciprocable plunger93. The opposite ends of this plunger are in the form of pistons 94 and95 which are slidable in cylinders 96 and 91 respectively. Fluidpressure is adapted to be alternately connected to the cylinders toeflfect reciprocation of the member 93 and thereby oscillation of gearmember 89.

In operation, as the piston 93 moves toward the right, th ratchet 8? isdepressed by the angular wall 98 of the ratchet teeth as moreparticularly shown in Figure 15, and at the same time an angular camsurface 99 formed on the member 89, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, isadapted to engage the end of the locking pawl 85 and eflect retractionthereof. To insure against rotation of the index plate 98, when thelocking pawl 85 is withdrawn, a hold-back plunger I99 is reciprocablymounted in the support 6 I and continuously urged by a spring Idl intoengagement with the periphery of the plate. The end of this plunger hasan angular surface I92 which is adapted to engage the side wall of thenotch 84 in such a manner as to prevent counterclockwise rotation of theindex plate. Upon movement in the other direction the ratchet picks upthe plate and rotates it in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure5, and by virtue of the other angular face I93 formed on the plunger I90it is cammed outward and thus does not interfere with the advance of theplate.

At the same time the cam 99 moves out of engagement with the end of thelocking plunger 85 whereby it is free to snap into engagement with thenext locking slot that comes into position. It should be noted that allof this indexing mechanism is self-contained in the base M whicheliminates any complicated drivin connections when the support isangularly adjusted.

Fluid pressure for operating the piston 93 of the ratchet mechanism istaken from the delivery of the rapid traverse pump 22 shown in Figure 14through channel I64. This channel is led out through one end of themachine as shown in Fi ure 1, and has a branch connection I95, Figure16, to an accumulator cylinder I95, which has a piston IU'I backed up bysuitable springs I98 whereby a volume of liquid under pressure may bestored in chamber I99 to insure against drop in pressure duringoperation of the device. The channel I94 continues in the form of aflexible hose, as shown in Figure 1, to the table I4 where it isconnected to a port ill? of a reversing valve I I I for the plunger 93.This valve is mounted on the back of the table I4 as more particularlyshown in Figure 4. This valve has a pair of ports I I2 and I I3 whichare connected by channels H4 6 and I I 5 to the ends of cylinders 91 and96 respectively.

The valve plunger H5 has an enlarged central spool II'I flanked bycannelures I I8 and H9 whereby when the valve is in the position shown,fluid pressure is delivered to cylinder 91, and whenthe valve is shiftedto the left, fluid pressure is delivered to cylinder 96. As the tableadvances toward the left, a flipper dog I 29 rotatably attached to theend of a shifter rod I2I rides over a do I22 which is attached to therear of the bed as shown in Figure 2. When the table returns, theflipper is not free to rotate clockwise from the position in which it isshown in Figure 16 whereby the dog I22 will cause upward movement of theshifter rod I2 I. This movement will be transmitted through a bell crankconnection I23 to the reverse plunger IIB causing movement thereof tothe left and thus the admission of fluid pressure from port H9 tochannel I I5 whereby the plunger 93 will be shifted to the right, theenlarged central spool II'I acting as a hydraulic detent to insurecompletion of the movement.

At the same time port I I2 will be connected to the exhaust port I24,and channel I25, which eventually is connected to the return channel 24shown in Figure 14.

When the plunger 93 has completed its movement to the right it willinterconnect the port I29 with port I2 1 whereby fluid pressure willflow through choke coil are and channel I29 to pilot valve I 39 andshift the plunger I3I thereof to the left against the resistance ofspring I 32.

This will position the cannelure I33 to interconnect a port I39, whichis branch connected by line I35 to the pressure line I94, to a port I36which is connected by channel I31 to the left end of reverse valve I Il. The coil I28 provides a slight delay to insure that the flipper I29has moved out of engagement with dog I22 whereby upon admission ofpressure to the left end of Valve i I I, the plunger I I6 may bereturned to the right and thereby reconnect pressure port I I9 with portIIZ and thus return plunger 93. This will effect indexing of the table53. When the plunger 93 has completed its return movement port IZ'I willbe connected by a groove I38 to exhaust channel I39 whereby the fluidmay gradually be forced out of the end of the valve I39 by the springI32 in returning the plunger ISI. This will place the parts in theiroriginal position in preparation for the next indexing movement.

It will now be noted that the table will automatically continue itsreciprocating movement in a cycle comprising rapid traverse advance,feed, rapid return and automatic reverse, and during the return movementof each cycle the work supporting table will be automatically indexed.These cycles will be repeated until all of the vanes on the work piecehave been machined.

Means have been provided for automatically stopping the table after allof the vanes have been machined. The initiating control for thiscomprises a valve I49 which contains a plunger I4I which is normallyurged in one direction by a spring I42. The upper end of this plungerrides on the underside of the index plate until a depression I43 formedin the underside of the index plate as shown in Figures 6, 9 and 16moves into position over the plunger which occurs once for eachrevolution of the plate. While the valve plunger MI is held down by theplate 68 an annular groove I44 formed in the plunger is in a, positionto interconnect a pair of ports I45 and I46. The port I45 is connectedby a channel I41 to a port I48 formed in the cylinder 91 whereby whenthe indexing plunger 95 completes its return movementthe fluid pressurein cylinder 91 may pass through port I 48, channel I41, interconnectedports I45 and I lfi andchannel I49 to port I50 of an interlock cylinderII, This cylinder contains a fluid actuated piston I52 which has aninterlock pin I53 formed in the end thereof which is adapted to engageanotch I5 3 cut in the periphery of the stop dog 46. The particulararrangement of these parts is moreparticularly shownin Figure 12.

From that figure it will be noted that the stop dog 46 is normally urgeddownward by a spring I55 but when the lock pin I53 is'withdrawn the dogfi is free to rise upon engagement with stop plunger 3'! whereby theplunger 31 will not, be trip actuated. When the plunger MI is permittedto shift by virtue of registration with the depression I43, the port I46is interconnected by an annular groove I56 to an exhaust port I 51whereby the port I50 of cylinder I5I is connected to reservoirpermitting a spring I58 to shift the lock pin I53into engagement withthe stop dog 46, whereby upon the next return movement of the table theplunger 31 will be depressed and the table will be stopped. 7

It will be noted from Figure 13 that the plunger MI is mounted in theindexfixture support 6|.

There has thus been provided an improved automatic indexing millingmachine including an index table which is adapted to be reciprocated inrepetitive automatic cycles and during the return movement of eachcyclethe work supporting table is automatically indexed and after a completerevolution, of the work supporting table by successive indexingmovements the main table of the machine is automatically stopped.

It will be noted that the indexing fixture is selfcontained andhydraulically actuated whereby it maybe conveniently and'quicklyarranged at any desired angle within limitations to position work indifferent angular relations to the cutting path of the cutter, becausehydraulic pipe connections are; readily adjustable as compared to amechanical drive which would require a multiplicity of parts to providea similar flexible power transmission train.

What is claimed is:

1. In a milling machine having a bed, a table reciprocably mounted onthe bedka tool supported by the bed in operative relation to the table,the combination of power operable transmission means for reciprocatingthe table, an indexible work fixture mounted on the table, fluidoperable means self-contained in the fixture for effecting indexingthereof, a reversing valve for said fluid operable means, means actuatedby said transmission for supplying fluid pressure to said valve, a tripoperable member carried by the table for shifting said reversing valvein one direction, and fluid operable connections effected by said fluidoperable means for shifting the reversing valve in the other directionand simultaneously repositioning said trip operable member.

2. In a machine tool having a tool and a reciprocating support movablerelative thereto, the combination of an indexible work fixture mountedon the support, a fluid operable piston contained in the fixture foreffecting said indexing, a source of pressure, a reversing. valvemounted on the table and shiftable to connect said pressure for oppositeactuation of said piston, a trip plunger carried by the table andoperatively con-. nectedto said valve, a 'fixed dog for cooperating withsaid plunger, dogfengaging means on the plunger effective during onlyone direction of table movement to shift the plunger and thereby thereversing valve, and means connectible by the piston upon completion ofits movement in one direction to connect its actuating pressure toeffect return shifting ofthe reverse valve'andsimultaneouslyrepositioning said plunger.

3. In a machine tool having a cutting tool and a work support mountedfor relative movement, the combination of an indexibl fixture mounted onth work support, fluid operable means to effect said indexing-includingapiston, a source of pressure, a reversing valve for connecting saidsource of pressure to said'piston to effect reversible operation or"said piston, tripoperable means carried by the support for shifting saidreversing valve in one direction, a pilot valve for connecting pressureto shift the reversing valve in the other direction, and channel meansconnecting said pilot valve to the piston for receiving fluid pressuretherefrom upon completion of its stroke in one direction.

4. In a machine tool having a cutting tool and a work support mountedfor relative movement, the combination of an indexible fixture mountedon the work support, fluid operable means to effoot said indexingincludinga piston, a source of pressure, a reversing valve forconnecting said source of pressure to said piston to efiect reversibleoperation of said piston, trip operable means carried by the support forshifting said reversing valve in one direction, a pilot valve forconnecting pressure to shift the reversing valve in th other direction,means connecting said pilot valve to the piston for receiving fluidpres: sure therefromupon completion of its stroke in one direction, andachoke coil in said connecting means for retarding actuation of saidpilot valve.

5. In a machine tool having a tool support and a work support supportedfor relative movement, the combination of an indexing fixture mounted onthe work support, means to reciprocate the work support on a cuttingstroke and a return stroke, fluid operable means for indexing saidfixture including afiuid operable piston, a reversing valve therefor, atrip plunger carried by the table and operatively connected tosaid'valve,

a fixed dog, means on the plunger for engaging said dog, said meansbeing inoperative during the cutting stroke but effective during thereturn stroke to effect actuation of'said reversing valve, 9, pilotvalve, means normally holding said; valve in an inoperative position,and means responsive o completion of movement of said-piston in onedirection for connecting fluid pressure for actuation of said pilotvalve and thereby, connection of pressure to said reversing valve toeffect return shifting therec-f;-

6. In a machine tool having a tool support and a work support supportedfor relative movement, the combination of an indexing fixture mounted onthe work support, meansto'reciprocate the work support on a cuttingstroke and a return stroke, fluid operable means for indexing saidfixture including a fluid operable piston, a reversing valve therefor, atrip plunger carried by the; table and operatively connected to saidvalve, a fixed dog, means on'the plunger for engaging said dog,saidmeans being inoperative during the cuttingv strok but efiectiveduring the return stroke to, effect; actuation ofsaid reversin valve,

a pilot valve, means'normally holding said' valve in an operativeposition, means responsive to completion of movement of said piston inone direction for connecting fluid pressure for actuation of said pilotvalve and thereby connection of pressure to said reversing valve toeffect return shifting thereof, and connections rendered efiective uponreturn movement of said piston for relieving the pressure on said pilotvalve whereby it will return to an inoperative position.

'7. In a machine tool having a tool support and a cutter support, thecombination of power operable means for reciprocating said supportincluding automatic reversing means, a stop plunger, a trip dog carriedby the table for engaging said plunger, a shiftable member carried bythe table for locking said dog in a trip effecting position, fluidpressure means for holding said member in an unlocked position wherebysaid table may effect a continuous series of reciprocations, and meanscarried by the table for releasing said fluid pressure after apredetermined number of continuous reciprocations of the work support.

8. In a milling machine having a cutting tool, a reciprocable worksupport and an indexing fixture carried by the support for successivemovements toward and from the cutting means whereby a series of radialmilling operations may be performed upon a work piece, the combinationof trip operable means for stopping the table after the necessary numberof radial milling operations have been performed including a stop dog, alocking member for rendering said dog effective, fluid operable meansfor holding said member in an inoperative position during thereciprocations of the table including a control valve for connectingpressure to said fluid operable means, an index plate carried by theindexible fixture, means holding said valve in engage ment with saidplate and said plate having a notch formed therein for permittingrelease of said valve after a complete revolution of the indexingfixture.

WALTER I-IOIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

-UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,936,257 Nenninger et al Nov.21, 1933 1,949,079 Armitage Feb. 27, 1934 2,205,361 Kearney et a1 June18, 1940 2,309,241 Curtis Jan. 26, 1943 2,007,827 Fletcher July 9, 19352,261,052 Cofiin et a1 Oct. 28, 1941 1,656,624 Finsen Jan. 17, 19281,971,593 Condon Aug. 28, 1934 2,206,492 Westenberger et a1. July 2,1940 2,262,103 Laesster Nov. 11, 1941

